Electric sign



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,520

' J. F. IRELAND ELECTRIC SIGN Filed May 51, 1927 ex L 26 a3 f 1; 35 35 Q] 0 H N D O E o Gumm Patented Nov. 13,1928. .1

UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. IRELAND, OF PENNVILLE, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

' Application filed May 31,

: lucent and water-proof, and not subject to deterioration, or damage, through ordinary climatic or usage conditions and at the same time adapted to transmit a maximum of illuminated brilliance; and having means for. supplying electric light to the interior of the sign to vividly display the characters wh ch may be printed upon the sign or advertlsmg a decorative purpose; and containing various other desirable features, all of which will be made apparent in the course of the specification. g I

One means for carrying out the principles of my invention in a practical manner, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 8 Figure 1 is a side elevation of my complete sign, showing the same as'suspended from a wall and in operative position. Figure 2 is a perspective skeletoniz ed view of the frame alone. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the sign. Figure 4 is a cross section taken, for instance, on the line4-4 of Fig. 3. Figure 5 is a detailview of onecorner porti'on of the sign, simply showingthe attachmentof the fabric to theframe. And Fig ure 6 is a detail view of the shaft alone, by

which the sign is supported "whereby it may swing. I 7 v Similar indices denote like parts througlr out the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and the several advantages of theinvention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as comprehensively as I may The invention comprises a. skeletonized double frame which is formed by the upper members 1 and 2; the lower members 3 and 4;; the inner end members 5 and 6; and theouter end. members 7 and 8. One side of the 1927,.Seria1 No. 195267.

double frameis: formed by the members 1, 3, 5 and 7. The other side of the frame being formed by the members 2, 4, 6 and 8.

' Said side members are spaced apart and are connected bythe straight cross members 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14; and 15, and by the V- shaped cross-member hip Each of said members, 1 to 16 inclusive, is formed of tubing or of rather heavy stifl wire stock, and they are all integrally unitedat their junctures with each other whereby a complete double frame isformed substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

The frame thus formed is completely cov-v ered with fabric, preferably rather thin and transparent llnen" gauze, forming the faces or sides 17 and 18.1 The former being se curedto the members 1, 3, 5 and 7, and the latter to the members 2, 4,. 6 and 8. The edges of the. sides 17 and 18 being simply coiled around saidmembers of the frame, where they are retained by an adhesive. such as glue, shellac, or so-called aeroplane dope .',"In like manner thefabric top 19 is securedat-its edges to the members 1 and 2; the bottom fabric 20 is likewise secured to the members 3 and 4; and the end fabrics 21' likewise extend between the ,members 5f 6 and 7 -8, to which they are secured in same manner as the members 17 and 18. In fact the top, bottom,.and ends may be formed of a single'length of fabric.

:In the center of the bottom 20, between the members 3, 4, 12 and 18,, an opening should be formed wherebyvaccessmay be had. for,

oneshand into the interior of the sign. .Also in thecenter of the top 19 is a small aperture a,'which is covered by an arched cap 22,:which is open at each end, 'inQorder to provide ventilation for the interior.

After being attached in place the various members of the fabridlnentionedare' covcred with a transparent fiuid eir-varnish, such as that used on the wings cram-0 11mm, such as is commonly called aeroplane dope, which is a clear liquidv resembling shellac, glue, paste or varnish, which has the characteristic of hardening quickly, and of stretching the fabric tightly, and when dry is absolutely waterproof, and will not dissolve or disintegrate by weather conditi0ns Several applications, or coats, of said dope should be applied to the fabric in order to attain the desired consistency for service.

or even between two layers of said dope. Likewise any desired color may be given to the fabric. Also the characters, such as John Doe shown in Fig. 1, may be applied on the white background of the members 17 and 18; or the letters may be left white and the background may be colored or painted in as desired.

After said fabric members are located, as set forth,then the various corners of the sign are covered with rather heavy tape 35, thereby providing reinforcement and covering the joints where "the fabric members overlap the frame. Said tape being laid to follow the outlines of the frame members and following the contour thereof.

A pleasing and artistic effect is given by having thetape of a color distinctively different from that of the fabric.

Numeral 23 denotes a shaft which is attached at one end to the cross member 9, resting in the angle of the member 16 and secured thereto, and extends under the member 15, and then extends back some distance beyond the inner end of the sign.

Said'shaft has a notch 24 formed across its rearportion.

Secured to the wall A is a plate 25, from which extends outward the tubular hanger arm 26, in which fits the shaft 23. ii set-screw 27 is. threaded into the arm 26, with its point adapted to enter the notch 24 wherebvthe shaft28 may'rotatea limited distance but can not be moved .endwise while the set-screw is therein. I

Locatedinside the body of the sign is one or more electric lamps, as for'instance the lamps 28, 2-9 and 30, which are connectedby the wires 81 and 32, with a lead-in wire'33 extending from one, and a second'wire" 34 forming the return circuit. Said wires extend back through the end of the sign, from which they extend to a source-of electricity, in any well known manner. The sockets of said lamps may extend up from the cross members 11, 12, 13 and 14;, or they may extend down from the cross members 9, 10,.

15 and 16 employing any number of lamps desired.

Said strip 40 also acts as a. brace to further stiffen the sign. 1

Extending out from the centerof the cross member 10 is an eyelet 36 which, when the sign is in the position-shown iii-Fig. 1,

has two u '-wires 37 extendin therefrom flaring apart therefrom, with their upper endssecured in eye-.bolts 38' attached to the v wall A. V

\Vh'en the sign is positioned. and connected up as shown in Fig. 1, it is evident that if electric current be" turned on to light the lamps, that while the lamps can not be seen from outside theflsign, yet the J sign will: be lighted in all'of its parts, thereby giving a Very pleasing, artistic, and attractive appearance as a whole, and'the advertisements on each side of the sign will stand out very clearly and distinctively.

" Idesire that it be understood that the sign may be made'in va-riousshapes and sizes, and of varying contour, without departing from the spiritv of the invention orsacrificing any of. the advantagesthereof which are new and useful and which involve invention.

Having nowfully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent'of the United States, is-

A sign comprising in combination, .two

sid'em'embers identical with each other and spaced apart parallel with each other and formed of metal tubing, cross members rig idly connecting said side members; and together with the side members forming a skeleton framework, a shaft secured to the upper cross members and located midway of and parallel wlth saidside members and extending out there from at one end, an eye said fabric, advertising matter applied to said fabric, means for adj ustably. suspending the sign by said shaft, electric light tures located between said two sides of the frame, means for conducting electric curs rent through said fixtures, and means for: reinforcing the edges of the s1gn,-'all substantially as set forthf y In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name. 7 r

JOHN F. IRELAND. 

